Power-transmission mechanism.



No. 747,236. PATENTED DEC. 15, 1908.

J. A. SOHAEPER.

POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 9.1902.

N0 MODEL.

B n a (9 a Q m Witnesses: Inventor;

JusephAEchaefen A110 FTIEQS.

, the attachment of the plates.

UNITED STATES Patented December 15, 1903.

PATENT OEEIcE.

POWER-TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,236, dated December15, 1903.

Application filed June 9,1902. Serial No. 110,796. (No modehl T0 at whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. SOHAEFER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Power-TransmissionMechanism, (Case No. 1,) of which the following is a full, clear,concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to power-transmission mechanism, and is designedparticularly for use in connection with perfectingpresses, though it mayhave other application.

As is well known, it is essential to start large perfecting-presses verygradually, it being desired to eliminate all sudden shocks or jars,however small, in the driving of such presses which might cause thepaper to be torn and throw the operating mechanism out of the niceadjustment which is required. The presses, particularly in making up,have to be frequently started, stopped, and moved slightlyas, forexample, when stereotypeplates are fitted to the cylinders, where it isnecessary to turn the press frequently to effect the required rotationof the rollers to eX- pose different quadrants of the surface forHitherto such mechanism has occasionally worked improperly, entailingdisadvantages, the avoidance of which has been sought.

It has been proposed to employ two motors, one of small capacityconnected with the load through slow-motion gearing, this motorconstituting an auxiliary motor and connected with the load through theagency of a clutch, this motor being provided for overcoming the inertiaof the load to start the same. After the load has been started by theauxiliary motor acting in cooperation with the slowmotion gearing thesecond motor, constituting the main motor, is brought into operation tofurther increase the speed of the load toward the normal. As the speedof the load rises above the speed of the auxiliary motor, the latter isdisengaged by the action of the clutch and may be brought to rest. Itwill be seen in such apparatus that the clutching mechanism inassociation with other parts in troduces complications which have to bereckoned with.

I have designed power mechanism which at all times is able to fullyaccomplish the results desired in the operation of perfectingpresses.Generally speaking, this power mechanism comprises two motors ofdifferent normal speeds, one a low-speed motor and the other ahigh-speed motor, having permanent and preferably fixed mechanical unionwith each other and coupled with the load through a commoninstrumentalit.y,as, for example, a gear having fixed connection withboth of the motors. The slow-speed motor is preferably of comparativelysmall power, while the high-speed motor is of considerably more power,being designed to operate the load at the loads normal speed. Aneffective permanent mechanical union between the two motors ispreferably secured by means of a shaft common thereto, and the motorsselected are preferably electric motors, the armatures whereof arefixedly mounted upon the common shaft. Direct-c urrent motors are welladapted for the service. There is employed in association with eachmotor a controller, the controller for the slow-speed motor being firstoperated to bringit to its maximum speed, the controller for thehigh-speed motor being operated in time to effect torque upon the commonshaft, so that the shaft will continue to have torque exerted thereuponas the controller of the first motor is operated to throw it out ofaction. By means of the two motors a torque that increases verygradually from minimum to maximum is placed upon the shaft, the initialtorque being exerted by the motor of low speed and small power, thismotor of smaller capacity serving through the agency of its controllerto gradually increase the speed and the torque exerted upon thepower-shaft within the range of the minimum speed and torque of themotor of larger capacity, which motor of larger capacity graduallyincreases its minimum speed and torque upon the shaft (whichapproximates the maximum torque and speed of the motor of smallercapacity) until the required normal torque upon the shaft is attainedand the desired high rate of speed of the shaft secured. The two motorsthus act in the place of a single motor, securing advantages that couldnot be secured by a single motor and inasmuch as such motor would haveto be capable of exerting maximum torque to create the highest rate ofspeed of the operating-shaft, such a motor inherently being incapable ofexerting that torque to produce the required minimum speed that isrequisite in starting such a load as that put upon theoperatingmechanism in the operation of perfecting printing-presses.Moreover, my improved construction is such that not only is the loadthus gradually started brought to its normal speed, but where it isdesired to gradually reduce the speed of the load to zero the motors maybe operated in an inverse mannerto that specified,producing no suddenshocks or jars upon the load as it is brought to rest. Preferably themotors are not simultaneously supplied with power except where the workof the one is taken up or continued by the other, the armature of theidle motor being thus an unobjectionable additional load.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus constructedin accordance with the invention, circuit connections beingdiagrammatically indicated. Fig. 2 is a more diagrammatic illustrationof certain characteristics of the system illustrated in Fig. 1.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference in bothviews.

The motors a b may be mounted upon a common base and are arranged toexert torque upon the common fixed mechanical connection between themotorsas, for example, the working shaft 0, that is in drivingengagement with the operating-shaft d, that may operate the press orother load. The motor 0; may, for example, be considered the slowspeedmotor of comparatively small power, while the motor I) may be consideredthe high-speed motor of larger power. The motor a, for example, may berated at five-horse power, while the motor I) may be rated atfifty-horse power, while the speeds of the motors a and b may be atmaximum fifty and five hundred revolutions, respectively, while themotor I) may have its minimum rate of speed at fifty revolutions. Themotor a thus constitutes an auxiliary motor, serving to drive the shaftcat a low rate of speed, which at times is desirable and which could notbe effected by means of the motor I).

In operating a press the shaft dis preferably run at a much lower rateof speed with reference to the shaft 0, so that a limited movement ofthe slow-speed motor may be accompanied by a much reduced motion of theoperating-shaft, whereby the press may be moved very slightly whendesired. The particular form of motors shown are electric motors ofdirect-current type, the field-magnets whereof are stationary, whiletheir armatures e and f are fixedly secured upon the common shaft 0. Themotors may be supplied with current from common supply-mains g g. 'Eachmotor has a controller, these controllers be ing preferably merged in aunitary apparatus having acommon regulating lever or handle and aredesirablyin the form of the-rheostats illustrated.

The compound controller preferably has three segments of contacts 71, 07c, the segmental contact being connected directly with one main g,which contact 70 is common to the entire double controller. Thecompanion main g is directly connected with the brushes Z and m of themotors, the other brushes n and o of the motors being connected with oneof the contacts in the segment '5, which is subdivided into sectionsafter the manner of rheostat construction. The handle p of the rheostatis provided with a brush or contact-blade (1, that serves to connect thecommon terminal 70 with a particular plate of the row i in engagementtherewith, whereby either or both of the armatures of the motors may beconnected in bridge of the supply-mains, as desired. The field-winding1' of the motor I) is preferably permanently included in circuit withthe mains g g, while the field-winding s of the motor a is preferablyexcluded from circuit with the mains g g when the main motor I) is infull operation. To this end the set of contacts h is interposed betweenthe field-winding and its connection with one of the supply-mains, thebrush (1 serving by connecting the plates 7L and 70 to connect thefield-winding in circuit. The active plates of the group h are united bymeans of rheostat resistance 25, whereby the field may be graduallyexcluded from circuit or included in circuit. The rheostat resistanceto, associated with the set of contacts 't', is peculiar to the motor a,while the rheostat resistance 12 is peculiar to the motor I), theseresistances being subdivided and connected with contacts in the group 1in the manner of rheostats. Some of the contacts 2', connected with therheostat resistances u and 'v are, however, preferably so interrelatedthat when the auxiliary motor is being relieved by the main motor or inreducing the speed when the main motor is to be replaced by theauxiliary motor such transition may be gradually accomplished, bothmotors for a time being active in producing torque upon the commonshaft. To this end conductors w, 00, and y may unite contact-platesconnected with the resistances u and 0.

Assuming that the load is at rest and that it is to be brought to speed,the handle 19, as it appears in the drawings, may be moved in aclockwise direction, first completing the field-circuit 8, next closingcircuit through the armature of the motor a, through all of theresistance u, this resistance being gradually cut out of circuit untilthe brush reaches the plate 2, with which the brush n has directelectrical connection, whereupon all the resistance in circuit with thearmature of the motor a will be cut out of circuit. The handle p in itsprogress from the plate 2 includes the armature of motor I) in circuitwith the mains g g, the entire resistance '0 being in itially included.As the arm p continues in its travel the resistance 2) is gradually cutout of circuit, the conductors 10,93, and y be ing so connected as togradually cut the resistance it into the armature-circuit of motor a.Finally, after electrical connection of the brush q with the wire y, asstated, the armature of motor a is entirely cut out of circuit. Thebrush q continuing further in its movement, the balance of theresistance r is cut out of circuit. and the armature of'the motor I) iscompletely included in circuit without any extraneous resistance. Theresistancet in addition to regulating the field will pre' vent sparking.Thus the auxiliary motor a is gradually brought to speed and with it theload, the main motor I) being also gradually brought to speed, the lowerspeed of the main motor being achieved during the operation of theauxiliary motor at its higher limit of speed, the two motors thusdovetailing in their operation, producing a most grad uallyincreasingtorque and speed of the shaft and correspondingvery gradual increase inthe speed of the load.

The advantages of such a power system as that set forth will be apparentto those skilled in the art both in its broad and specific aspects withor without the association of the peculiar controlling agency disclosed.

It will be abvious that many changes may be made in the apparatussetforth without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I donot wish to be limited to the precise construction shown. While I haveshown a shaft rigidly coupling revolving elements of the motors, whichmotors thus have the same rate of speed, I do not wish to be limited tothe means shown for securing the same ratios of speed of the motors,whether the motors revolve at the same or different rates of speed, as Iconsider it to be new with me to bring high and low speed motors inpermanent mechanical engagement to secure a constant ratio of speedbetween the motors.

Having described my invention, I, claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent- 1. In apower-transmission mechanism, the combinationwith two motors of high and low speed relatively, and of large and smallpower respectively of a permanent. mechanical connection constantlyuniting the motors, and a controller for the low-speed motor,substantially as described.

2. In a power-transmission mechanism, the combination with two motors ofhigh and low speed relatively, and of large and small power respectivelyof a permanent mechanical connection constantly uniting the motors, anda controller for the high-speed motor, substantially as described.

3. In a power-transmission mechanism, the combination with two motors ofhigh and low speed relatively, of a permanent mechanical connectionconstantly uniting the motors, and

controlling mechanism for both motors, substantially as described.

4. In a power-transmission mechanism, the combination with two motors ofhigh and low speed relatively, of a permanent mechanical connectionconstantly uniting the motors, and controlling mechanism for bothmotors, the controlling mechanism of the high-speed and the low-speedmotor having a common controlling agency and being so interrelated thatthe high-speed motor is started before the low-speed motor is thrown outof service, substantially as described.

5. In a power-transmission mechanism, the combination with two electricmotors of high and low speed relatively, and of large and small powerrespectively of a permanent mechanical connection constantly uniting themotors, substantially as described.

6. In a power-transmission mechanism, the combination with two electricmotors of high and low speed relatively, and of large and small powerrespectively of a permanent mechanical connection constantly uniting themotors, and a controller for the low-speed motor, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a power-transmission mechanism, the combination with two electricmotors of high and low speed relatively, and of large and small powerrespectively of a permanent mechanical connection constantly uniting themotors, and a controller for the high-speed motor, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a power-transmission mechanism, the combination with two electricmotors of high and low speed relatively, of a permanent mechanicalconnection constantly uniting the motors, and controlling mechanism forboth motors, substantially as described.

9. In a power-transmission mechanism, the combination with two electricmotors of high and low speed relatively, of a permanent mechanicalconnection constantly uniting the motors, and controlling mechanism forboth motors, the controlling mechanism of the high-speed and thelow-speed motor having a common controlling agency and being sointerrelated that the high-speed motoris started before the low-speedmotor is thrown out of service, substantially as described.

10. In a power-transmission mechanism, the combination with two electricmotors of high and low speed relatively, and of large and small powerrespectively of a shaft upon which the armatures of both motors arefixedly mounted, substantially as described.

11. In a powertransmission mechanism, the combination with two electricmotors of high and low speed relatively, and of large and small powerrespectively of a shaft upon which the armatures of both motors arefixedly mounted, and a controller for the lowspeed motor, substantiallyas described.

12. In a power-transmission mechanism, the combination with two electricmotors of high and low speed relatively, and of large and small powerrespectively of a shaft upon which the armatures of both motors arefixedly mounted, and a controller for the highspeed motor, substantiallyas described.

13. In a power-transmission mechanism, the combination with two electricmotors of high and low speed relatively, of ashaft upon which thearmatures of both motors are fixedly mounted, and controlling mechanismfor both motors, substantially as described.

14. In a powertransmission mechanism, the combination with two electricmotors of high and low speed relatively, of a shaft upon which thearmatures of both motors are fixedlymounted, and controlling mechanismfor both motors, the controlling mechanism of the high-speed and thelow-speed motor having a common controllingagency and being sointerrelated that the high-speed motor is started before the low-speedmotor is thrown out of service, substantially as described.

15. In a powertransmission mechanism, the combination with two motors ofhigh and low speed relatively, and of large and small power respectivelyof means for constantly maintaining mutual driving connection betweenthe motors, substantially as described.

16. In a power-transmission mechanism, the combination with two motorsof high and low speed relatively, of a permanent mechanical connectionconstantly uniting the motors, and controlling mechanism for bothmotors, the controlling mechanism of the high-speed and the low-speedmotor having a common controlling agency and being so interrelated thatthe high-speed motor is started before the low-speed motor is thrown outof service, and vice Versa, substantially as described.

17. In a powertransmission mechanism, the combination with two electricmotors of high and low speed relatively, of a permanent mechanicalconnection constantly uniting the motors, and controlling mechanism forboth in otors,the controlling mechanism of the highspeed and thelow-speed motor having acommon controlling agency and beingsointerrelated that the high-speed motor is started before the low-speedmotor is thrown out of service, and vice versa, substantially asdescribed.

18. In a power-transmission mechanism, the combination with two electricmotors of high and low speed relatively, and of large and small powerrespectively of a shaft upon which the armatures of both motors arefixedly mounted, and controlling mechanism for both motors, thecontrolling mechanism of the high-speed and the low-speed motor having acommon controlling agency and being so interrelated that the high-speedmotor is started before the low-speed motor is thrown out of service andvice versa, substantially as described.

19. In a system of power transmission, the combination with high and lowspeed motors, of a common load-operating element actuated thereby, andmeans for constantly maintaining a constant ratio of speed between themotors, substantially as described.

In witness whereofl hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day ofJune, A.D. 1902.

JOSEPH A. SCHAEFER.

Witnesses:

HARVEY L. HANSON, JOHN STAHR.

